Dirigible light



Aug. 13, I1929.

c. SKLMQEK DIRIGIBLE LIGHT Filed May 25,' 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l J J2 M99 26 72 Aug. 13, 1929. c, sKLAEK 1,724,685

DIRGIBLE LIGHT Filed May 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 79 73 F72, 7a g l Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

i UNITED STATES 1,724,685 PATENT OFFICE.

CLIFFORD SKLAREK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL SPOT LIGHT CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DIRIGIBLE LIGHT.

Application led May 25,

This invention relates to improvements in dirigible lights.

In the manufacture and use of dirigible lights, the most common use of which is as a spotlight for automobiles and other automotive vehicles, one of the most difficult things to attain is a satisfactory projection of a powerful beam of light. The small electric bulbs which are universally used in this type of light as a source of illumination in combination with a reflector are not manufactured commercially of uniform character, it being a well known fact that the filaments are more or less irregular and very frequently off center with respect to the base of the bulb so that, even though the socket for the bulb is accurately placed relatively to the rellectonthe light rays will not emanate from the focus of the reflector surface and consequently a relatively weak and diffused beam of light is the result, This has been found true even when relatively high candle power bulbs are used.

One object of my invention therefore is to provide simple and eflicient adjustable means in the lamp head of a dirigible light for compensating for irregularities in the location of the filaments of the electric bulb so that the source of illumination may be accurately disposed at the focus of the reflector for any electric bulb that may be used in the lamp head.

Another difficulty encountered in the practical use of dirigible lights as spotlights for automobiles is the control of the area or zone into which the beam of light is permitted to enter. Due to the increased use of universally adjustable spotlights for automobiles and the possibilities of danger to approaching automobiliste at night from the glare when the spotlight is improperly or carelessly positioned, many of the States and municipalities have found it necessary to enact special legislation restricting the zones into which tlie beam of light may be lawfully projected. Such legislation varies greatly throughout the different States and municipalities with the result that it has heretofore been practically impossible for a manufacturer to market a single standard light that can meet all the various legislative requirements while at the same time obtaining the maximum range of use in those ples where the restrictions are less burdent" bviously, this militantes n others 1927. Serial N0. 194,022.

against low manufacturing cost because of the different models required to conform to the different legislative acts if the manufacturer desires to market his product in all territories.

Another object of my invention, therefore, is to provide an adjustable stop mechanism on a dirigible light particularly adapted for use as an automobile spotlight, such mechanism being so arranged that it may be adjusted, at the time of application of the light to the vehicle, to meet any legislative requirements while permitting the use thereof on a single standard model or style.

More specifically, an object of my invention is to provide an adjustable stop arrangement such that, when once adjusted at the time of assembling and mounting the light on the vehicle, it cannot be varied without disassembling the light from the vehicle to which applied.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a simple and economical universally attachable bracket for a spotlight and which consists of a minimumnumber of parts easily assembled and applied; the provision of simple and eflicient means for adjusting the relation of certain of the operative parts of the light that are subject to wear in use to thereby compensate for wear and eliminate undesirable rattling; and to provide certain improvements in the parts of the dirigible light to facilitate assembling and inspection and adjustment of parts normally concealed.

In the drawings forming a partof this specification, Figure l is a part elevational view. part vertical sectional view, of the forward portion of a dirigible light showing certain of my improvements embodied therein, parts being broken away in order to more clearly illustrate certain details of construction'. Figure 2 is a part vertical, sectional View and part elevational vie-w showing my improved bracket mounting for the dirigible light and as applied to the corner post or other part of the superstructure .of an automotive vehicle. Figure 3 is an enlarged, Vertical, sectional view illustrating the details of construction of the adjustable means for the bulb socket. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to the line 4-4 of Figure 3 but on a somewhat smaller scale. Figures 5, 6 and 7 are detail viewsof the three parts of the adjustable stop arrangement, the parts being separated and the im terme-diete part being shown in section. Figures 8, 9 and l0 are vertical sectional views of two parts shown in Figures and 6 and corresponding to the section lines 8 8, 9 9 and 10-10 thereof. Figure ll is a vertical, sectional view of the adjustable bearing for one of the operating shafts of the light. And Figure l2 is a sectional view of a modiied form of the adjusting arrangement for the electric bulb and embodying my invention. i

In the drawings, I have illust-rated a spotlight of the so-called universally adjustable type adapted to be mounted through the corner post of an automotive vehicle and operated from the interior of the superstructure. In the drawings, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate all of the details of the operating parts, particularly those that would normally be disposed on the interior of the automobile body since the present invention is not concerned with such portion of the operating mechanism. In general, the same are or may be of the same character as f illustrated in my co-pending application Ser. No. 693,410, filed February 13, 1924.

Referring to said drawings, the lamp head is shown as comprising a. main outer shell 2O of more or less parabolic outline, the same being secured between two washers 2l and 22 by nut 23 to a vertically extending operating shaft 24. The lower washer 22 is seated on a flat bearing surface provided at the upper end of a. vertically extending arm 25 of a main casting or block 26, the latter having another horizontally extending arm 27, as shown in Figure l. The arm 27 is in the form of an elongated hollow sleeve which is secured to an interior tube section 28 by screw 129, the section 23 in turn being welded or otherwise rigidly attached to a hollow operating tube 29, rotatably mounted within a stationary sleeve 30, the latter passing through ball member 3l and to the interior of the car, the inner extended end being shown at 30'um and broken ofi. Rotatably mounted within the bearing sleeve v29 is a horizontally extending shaft 32 -secured at its outer end to an extension 33, the latter being provided with a worm co-operable with a worm gear 34 on the vertical shaft 24.

The lamp is attached to the post of the vehicle by means hereinafter described through the ball member 31 and the lamp head. together with the block 26 is rotated about a horizontal axis by a handle (not shown) and the shaft 32 is rotated about its axis so as to impart rotation. of the lamp head about a vertical'axis by a suitable operating handle notshown and which may be of any suitable arrangement such as shown in my said pending` application.

The lamp head, in addition to the shell 20, includes a lens 35 attached to the shell by suitable means such as the clamping ring 36 and screws 37 and on the interior of the head is provided a reflector 33, the one illustrated being of usual parabolic type such that all light rays emana-ting from the focus of the reflector will be reflected from the surface of the reflector in parallel lines. Access to the interior space between the shell 20 and the reflector 33 is obtained through a large screw cap 39 that may be conveniently turned by a coin or other suitable device, the cap 39 being located at the apex of the shell vand aligned with the axis of the head.

As customary in this type of light, I employ an electric bulb whichr is indicated conventionally, the same having a lament shown at 40 and the usual base 4l, the latter bein r provided with pins 42 adapted to be assembled with the sleeve or socket 43 in the usual manner by bayonet joint slot tachment. The socket 43 is slidably mounted in the direction of its axis within an adjusting sleeve 44, the details of which are best illustrated in Figure 3. rlhe adjusting sleeve 44 is, in turn, rotatablv mounted within a bearing block 45 secured to the reflector 33. rIhe sleeve 44 is provided with an axially extended flange to the rear of the reflector which flange is slotted so as to provide a plurality of spring fingers 46- 4G which frictionally engage the socket member 43 and thus frictionally hold the latter in any adjusted position axially of the ad* justing sleeve 44. Said sleeve 44 as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, has the interior opening 47 thereof, which receives the socket 43, eccentrieally disposed with respect to the outer cylindrical surface 43 of the adjusting sleeve so that, as the adjusting sleeve 44 is rotated, it is obvious that the axis of the socket 43 and consequently, the axis of t ie electric bulb will be shifted up and down and laterally so that the center of the filament 40 may be accurately adjusted to coincide with the focus of the reflector, regardless of variations in the location of the lilament relative to the axis of the base of the bulb. IVith these two adjustments rotatively and longitudinally or axially, I am enabled to bring the source of illumination to the exact focus of the reflector and thus obtain a true parallel reflected ray beam and a most powerful light.

To maintain the adjusting eccentric sleeve 44 in any adjusted position of rotation, I preferably employ a spring yoke 50, which is secured to the bearing 45 by screw 5A the spaced arms 52-52 of the yoke carrying, at their lower ends, inwardly extending pins 53 passed through diametrically alined openings in the bearing block 45, the inner ends of said pins 52 engaging an annular groove 53 on the circumference of the adjusting sleeve 44. In thismanner, suilicient friction is createdto retain the adjusting sleeve 44 in any angular' position to which set.

CLI

this connection also, I utilize the pins 42 for an additional purpose. As shown in Figure 3, the bearing sleeve 44 is provided with a radially extended flange 54 which bears against the outer face of the bearing 45. The pins 52 are so located with respect to the groove 53, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3, as to be off-center of the groove 53 and toward the forward or inner side thereof, thus forcing or pulling the adjusting sleeve 44 inwardly with respect to the bearing and maintaining the parts in tight engagement with each other to avoid rattling or loose play. As will be understood, the inner ends of the pins 52 are round so as to facilitate the action last described. For convenience, the peripheral edge of the flange 54 may be knurled so as to facilitate rotation of the sleeve 44 by the operators ngers which may be inserted through the shell opening when the cap 39 is removed.

The electrical circuit is of the grounded type and the arrangement is such as to employ standard parts. including a plug 55 carrying a spring pressed pin 56 adapted to make contact with the usual contact point on the base of the electric bulb. The circuit is completed through the junction block 57, wire 58, passing down through the shaft 24 and terminating in a. pin 59, the latter entering a Contact piece 60 carried by the lower end of the shaft 24. A rotatable electrical connection is made between the cont-act piece 60 and a spring contact plate 6l secured to the block 26, the plate 6l having another arm 62 which contacts with an end contact piece 63 carried by the horizontal shaft 32. The latter is hollow, as will be understood and a wire is run from the contact piece 63 through the shaft 62 to the inner end of the lamp where suitable connection is made with a switch located at the operating handle.

As previously described, the shaft 32 carries a worm meshing with the worm gear 34 of the vertical shaft- 24. These meshing gears are obviously subject to considerable wear which, if not compensated for, results in looseness and rattling after the device has been in service for any length of time. To compensate for such wear, I provide a simple adjustment for the vertical shaft 24. lhe latter is rotatably mounted in a bearing sleeve 64, shown in Figures 1 and 11. The latte-r has the central bore 65 thereof for the shaft 24 eccentric with respect to the outer cylindrical surface 66, the latter' being rotatably engaged with a corresponding bearing in the block 26. By rotating the bearing sleeve 64 within its bearing, it is obvious that the axis of the vertical shaft 24 can be shifted relative to the axis of the horizontal shaft 32, thereby compensating for wear and assuring proper inter-meshing of the worm and worm gear at all times. The bearing sleeve 64 is heldin its adjusted position by a set screw 67 carried by the block 26, the inner end of said set screw entering an annular groove 68 in the sleeve 64 and in this connection I also utilize the set screw 67 to keep the sleeve 64 tight in its bearing by offsetting the set screw with respect to the center of the groove 68 so that, as said screw 67 is screwed home, it tends to pull the sleeve 64 downwardly and hence maintain tight engagement between the annular flange 69 of the sleeve and the corresponding bearing 70 in the block 26.

In adjustable lights of the character disclosed in the drawings, where two shafts are employed extending at right angles to each other and especially where electrical contacts must be carried through the two shafts, it

is obvious that there are several parts at the junction of the two shafts which must be arranged in a small space and which may require frequent inspection and possible adjustment. To facilitate such inspection and adjustment and also the assembling of the parts, and at the same time provide the necessary weather protection for the parts, I provide a removable hemispherical cap 71, which is screw-threaded to the block 26 as indicated at 72, in a plane of attachment that is substantially 45 to the axis of both the vertical and horizontal shafts. VVit-h this construction, upon removal of the cap, it is evident that access may be had to the entire corner section of the block 26 and to the electrical contact pieces, the set screw and the ends of bot-h shafts, thus providing a very efficient arrangement, reducing the cost of assembly and cost of` inspection and repairs.

Referring next to the improved bracket for attaching the lamp to the vehicle and particularly Figure 2. As is well known to those skilled in. the art, spotlights of the haracter described must be applied to body structures wherein the corner posts are of widely varying contours and one of the diflicultfeatures of mounting such lights is in providing a proper attachment to the corner post. The arrangement shown in Figure 2 provides a universal attachment of very simple and economical design and, as shown, eonsistsof two sheet metal stampings 7 3 and 74, together with the attaching screws 75. The member 73 is of annular form and comprises an outer cylindrical flange 76, the inner edge of which is adapted to bear against the corner post. Said member 73 also includes a flat section 77 in a plane paralleling the surface of the post and an inner concave flange 7 8 adapted to frictionally engage the ball member 3l. The other member 74 of the bracket has an outer flange 79, telcscoping the flange 76. The member 74 is also provided with a eomplemental inner concave flange adapted to engage the ball member 31, the flanges 78 and 8O straddling a major circle of the ball member 81 so as to prevent it from bodily translation while permit-ting of circular adjustment with respect to the bracket. The attaching screws 75 have the heads thereof seated in suitable counter-sunk sockets 81 in the outer member 74, the shanks of the screws passing 'through elongated slots 82 in the inner member 78 so that the attaching screws 7 5, which are common to both elements of the bracket, not only screw the bracket to the post, but also serve to create and maintain the frictional clamping effect of the anges 78 and 8O on the ball member 31. rlhe arrangement obviously involves a minimum number of parts; can be easily and cheaply manu factured; and provides a universal attachment for varying section posts.

rllo limit the zones in which the light beam may be projected, I provide the following arrangement, illustrated best in Figures 5 to 10 inclusive. The ball mein er 31 is provided with a sleeve extension 83 project-ing forwardly and which is rigidly secured to the sleeve 30 so that the ball member 81 is held in a relatively stationary or fixed position. llhe ball member 81 is provided with an annular flange 84, an annular bearing shoulder 85 of reduced diameter and a fixed limiting stop or lug 8G. rlhe arm 27 of the block 26, at its inner end, is of reduced diameter as indicated at 8G and is provided with V a plurality of teeth or projections 87 uniformly spaced apart circumferentially. An intermediate clutchlike element 88 is employed, the same having a central interior circular rib 89 and on one side thereof, 'an interior lug 90 and on the opposite side thereof a plurality of teeth or projections 91. Vf hen the parts are assembled, as shown in Figure 1, the member 88 has the teeth 91 thereof interlocked with the teeth 87 of the block 2G at any desired position angularly of each other so that the member 88 will then maintain a fixed relation with respect to the block 26.k lWhen thus assembled, it is obvious Vthat the rot-ation of the block 2G about the horizont-al axis will be limited by the two cooperable limiting stops or lugs 86 and 90, the arc of rotation being predetermined by the arcuate extent of the two lugs 8G and 90. |The rotation of the lamp about the horizontal axis is thus limited to the desired zone and by adjusting or varying the connection between the member 88 and the block 2G, this zone can be shifted about the horizontal axis. In this manner, I am enabled to vary the zones into which the light beam is projected to conform to the various legislative requirements, while at the same time using one standard model. Furthermore, it will be observed that when the setting of the limiting stop arrangement is made and the lamp mounted on the vehicle, this setting cannot be varied by the user without disassembling the entire lamp structure and reassembling the same on the vehicle.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figure 12.V In lieu of an eecentrically adjustable bearing for the bulb socket, I may employ an adjustable sleeve 144 having an annular rib 145 of semi-circular crosssection on its exterior, said rib 145 cooperating with a bearing member 146 secured to the reflector 138 and an annular bearing ring 147. The bearing 146 and ring 147 are provided with complemental curved bearing surfaces 148 148 cooperable with the rib 145 to form a ball and socket joint so that the sleeve 144 may be adjusted universally to vary the axis of the lamp socket. 'Tomaintain the adjusted position of the sleeve 144 and to eliminate possibility of rattling, the ring bearing 147 is attached to the bearing 148 by screws 149-149, the latter carrying springs 150 on their stems interposed between the heads of the screws and the ring 147. rIhe adjustable sleeve 144 is provided with spring lingers 151 corresponding to the spring lingers 4G of the structure first described so as to frictionally hold the socket 143 in any adjusted position relative thereto in an axial direction. As will be apparent, I am enabled to obtain the same universality of the adjustment of the filament of the lamp bulb with respect to the focus of the re- -flector as heretofore described in connection with the structure shown in Figure 1.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a dirigible lamp adapted to be mounted on supports of varying contour,- the combination with a bearing member having a sleeve extension and a ball-like enlargement; of a lamp-carrying member rotatably mounted on the end of said sleeve extension; means extending through said bearing member for rotating said lampcarrying member; means including a collar mounted on said sleeve extension for limiting rotation of said lamp-carrying member with respect to the bearing member, said collar being adjustably interlocked with the lamp-carrying member; and a friction grip bracket for said bearing member, said brack- Yet including an element having a peripheral flange adapted to bear against the support and a centrally apertured concave portion extended in the same direction as said flange, a second element having a peripheral flange telescoped over said first mentioned flange and a centrally apertured concave portion extended in the opposite direction,

said two concave portions rictionally engaging the ball-like section ot said bearing member to permit adjustment therebetween; and means for securing the bracket elements to the support.

2. In a dirigible lamp adapted to be mounted on a support, the combination With a relatively lined bearing member' having a sleeve extension; of a lamp-carrying member rotatable on the end of said sleeve extension; means journaled in and extending through said bearing member adapted to rotate said carrying member; and zone adjustable means for limiting the amount of rotation oi said carrying member relative to the bearing member including a collar rotatably mounted on the sleeve, cooperable means on said collar and one of said members to limit relative rotation therebetween, and other cooperable interlocking means on said collar and other member, said last named means being adapted to be interlocked in di'l'erent adjusted positions.

3. In a dirigible lamp adapted to be mounted on supports of varying contour, the Combination With a bearing member having a ball-like enlargement; of a oooperable bracket for adjustably supporting said lamp comprising, a base element having a concaved apertured central portion and a peripheral flange of greater Width than the depth of said concaved portion and extending in the same direction, the edge of said flange being adapted to bear on and be fitted against the support, a second element having a corresponding but oppositely extending concaved apertured central portion,

and a peripheral flange extending in the same direction as and telescoped over said irst named flange, said tivo concaved portions frictionally engaging the ball-like enlargement of said bearing member; and means for securing said bracket elements to said support. A In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of April 1927.

CLIFFORD SKLAREK. 

